Posted on 06/15/2005 1:08:24 PM PDT by Borges
David Sutherland, an artist whose work appeared in various Dungeons and Dragons rule books, has died. He was 56 years old.
Sutherland passed away at his home in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., on June 6 from chronic liver failure.
Although he remained faceless to Dungeons and Dragons players, a generation of gamers grew up with Sutherland's otherworldly images in the 1970s and '80s.
Perhaps his best-known illustration is the one that appeared on the cover of the first Dungeons and Dragons set.
A simple composition, it shows a wand-waving magic user and a knight, his longbow drawn, squaring off against a dragon who sits – à la Smaug from The Hobbit – atop a vast pile of gold coins and jewels.
Sutherland's clean, expressive artwork helped players picture their own imaginary "campaigns," as the ongoing games of Dungeons and Dragons were called.
Working at the company Tactical Studies Rules under the game's co-inventor, Gary Gygax, Sutherland was part of a team of illustrators that produced pictures of battles and monsters.
His fellow artists included Erol Otis, Darlene Pekul, David Trampier and others.
Sutherland's work also appeared on the cover of the Dungeon Masters Guide, the book used by the referee who would oversee each gaming session.
He also did the cover for the Monster Manual, the compendium of foes that players fought for treasure.
A Minneapolis native, Sutherland trained as a commercial artist before going to Vietnam to serve as a military policeman. After his return, he launched a career as a fantasy artist while working odd jobs.
Sutherland's cover art for the 'Dungeon's Masters Guide.' Eventually, a university professor involved in developing Dungeons and Dragons put him in touch with TSR, the Wisconsin firm that emerged as the dominant publisher of role-playing games.
Sutherland also served as TSR's artistic director, but preferred working on his own art.
Sutherland's career stalled after Wizards of the Coast, another gaming concern, bought TSR in the late 1990s and did not rehire him. He recently divorced, and was reportedly still upset at the dissolution of his marriage when he died.
An auction of Sutherland memorabilia was held last year, raising $22,000 US that was used to set up a trust fund for his two daughters. He is also survived by his mother, a sister and a brother.
Following a visitation, Sutherland will receive a military burial on June 22 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.
Well, I'm glad he's not playing it anymore. But I still get a little chuckle when I think of some ten year old girl shaming him.
"I have an ogre-slaying knife . . . it's got a +1 against ogres!"
#55: That's when the REAL fun begins. :)
That is funny stuff.
I heard that the quality of Chinese Vorpal swords is improving.
Yeah those stories are true.
I did that back when I was a youngster.
I went crazy and committed suicide three times while playing that game.
Hahahahahahahahaha!
I was one of those who played sports, dated girls, played D&D and drank a lot of beer in H.S.
What about the guys like me who grew our hair long, played guitar in a band and did it with all the stoner chicks?
You want a good time? Dump the geek girls and hook up with a stoner (thrasher, metal head, whatever).
"If there are, I wanna DO them"
Possibly the funniest flash animation thing I ever saw, and a little too close to the truth for some gaming groups I have played with...
And of course, now I cannot find the link to the thing...
I resemble that remark. It's amazing how many chicks are attracted to a guy with long hair and a leather jacket.
Not much of an artist though.
I had both of those. Probably still in boxes someplace actually.
eBay, here I come!
"It was the first Roll Playing Game I have ever played and what has brought me into the world of fantasy."
I've been playing the role of "Tax Paying Serf" for years and I keep hoping this fantasy world will someday disappear.
I much preferred the Ginsu blade and the sword of Cusinart.
Not only that, you also need an Adamanite weapon and a 28 Str Barbarian.
A while back, I read a story about a magic-sword related murder in Hong Kong. One gamer (Everquest, I think) had promised to sell an in-game magic sword from his character to the owner of another character for something like $800. He then went back on his word and the aggrieved buyer killed him (in real life, not on-line).
You mean the Vorpal SwordI bought last week at Wal-Mart...might not work?!? ;-)
I didn't play D&D much -- though I owned most of the books.... But a couple I met, playing D&D as an adult, would later introduce me to my wife.
You mean the Vorpal Sword I bought last week at Wal-Mart...might not work?!? ;-)
Yeah... you roll a 20, you cut off your own head.
Of all the ways for kids to waste time, Dungeons and Dragons was probably the best. Hey its better than sitting in front of a tv playing video games all day.
Damn video games killed Dungeons and Dragons!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.